Closure for liquid containers



March 8, Y F, J, T, BARNES y 2,110,643

CLOSURE FOR LLIQUID CONTAINERS Filed June 22, 1955 2 sheets-sneu 1 Fig. I; 2]

24 F' 3 f y lg. 20

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`March 8, 193%. F. J. T. BARNES CLOSURE FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed June 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figs.

I w 7 w. 9 6 0 0 O 8 U 0J.. 0 I 5 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frederick John Trevallon Barnes, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Application June 22,

1935, Serial No. 27,987

In Great Britain December 14, 1933 9 Claims.

This invention relates to means for use in iilling or emptying liquid containers or for automatically sealing them under pressure and resealing them under pressure, or for sterilizing containers, and an object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which may be employed for any of these purposes.

According to the present invention a Valve for closing a bushing in a liquid container comprises a head to engage the inner end of the bushing and thereby seal it and a projection or projections from the head to engage the bushing whereby the valve may be supported by the bushing, and to engage the end of a stem inserted through the bushing (for example, the stem of an extractor), whereby the valve may be supported by the stem. The purpose of this arrangement is that when the stem is passed through the bushing and down into the container the valve is removed from its seat but remains supported on the stem. When the stem is withdrawn through the bushing, the valve is returned to its position in engagement with the bushing.

According to this invention also, in or for a container for liquids, there is provided an extractor comprising, in combination, a unit comprising two tubes one inside the other to` provide a .conduit between them, the outer tube having two apertures, one adapted to communicate with the inside of the container and the other with the outside thereof, a closure for said conduit at the inner end of the said unit, a removable valve member for closing the inner end of a. bushing secured within the bung-hole of the container, means on the said unit for engaging andremoving the valve member when the unit is inserted through the bushing, and means for again securing the valve member against the bushing, upon withdrawal of the unit.

Ihe projection or projections aforesaid may be resilient to engage recesses in the inner wall of the bushing and in the end of the stem. Alternatively, the projection aforesaid from the head of the valve may be a tubular portion externally screw-threaded to engage screw-threads in the bushing and internally screw-threaded to engage screw-threads on the stem.

Other features of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of extractor according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the extractor stem and valve member in a diiferent position.

Figures 3 and 4 are a sectional elevation and a sectional plan respectively of an alternative form of valve member according to the invention, Figure 4 being a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are an elevation and plan respectively of yet another form of the invention, Figure 6 being a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, whilst Figures 7, 8, and 9 are views of further modiiied forms of the invention.

Figure 10 shows a valve applied to a modified form of extractor. v

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a metal bush I0 is fitted to the bunghole of a liquid container, such as a beer barrel, by a surrounding bushing I i having a packing ring I2 and a screw-threaded annulus I3. The extractor comprises two nut members I4, I5 each having grip portions I6. The nut I4 is screw-threaded on to the bush I and a sleeve I'I of resilient material makes a fluid-tight joint between a collar I8 on the nut I4 and the top annular surface of the bush I9. The nut I5 is screwed into the nut I4 and engages a rubber packing ring I9.

The extractor stem comprises two concentric tubes 20, 2l, one inside the other and the conduit between these tubes is closed at the bottom by an annular plug 22.

At the top of the stem the tubes engage an elbow 23 and a hole 24 in the wall of the outer tube communicates with a laterally-extending bore 25 whilst the inner tube 2| is received in the vertical limb 26 of the elbow. A port 39 is formed in the outer tube 20 at a point high up in the stem when the stem is in position within the container.

A valve for closing the bushing comprises a steel frusto-conical disc 41 having riveted thereto a series of upstanding prongs or tongues 59 formed with curved heads 54 to engage a groove 55 cut in the stem near its lower end. A rubber extension 49 is formed With an inwardly-directed ange 65 which engages a groove in the lower end o-f the bush and a screw-threaded collar 65 engages the outer wall of the rubber extension at the region of the flange 65 and may be screwed down to lock the rubber in position on the bush. It will be seen that the disc-portion 4l of the valve seats in a V-shaped groove in the bore of the rubber and that the bore is flared outwardly beyond this point.

The extractor is fitted to a container as follows. The stem is passed through the nut I4 until the tapering inner end 39 of the stem passes between the curved ends 54 oi the tongues 50 and wedges them apart. Downward movement of the valve is so far prevented by the engagement of the disc 41 with the groove in the rubber 49. When the stem has been moved down into the position shown in Figure l, the curved ends 54 spring into engagement with the groove 55 in the stem and further downward movement oi the stem causes the disc 41 to expand the rubber 49 and pass: downwardly out oi the groove. The stem is passed down, with the valve supported on it, as shown in Figure 2, until the bottom of the stem is near the bottom of the container. A fluid-tight seal between the extractor body and the stem is now obtained by tightening the nut l5 with respect to the nut i4, whereby the packing ring I9 is distorted to expand it in a radial direction. An alternative form of seal is described later with reference to Figure l0.

The extractor is used for steriliaing and filling the container in a manner described later.

In the alternative construction shown in Figu ures S and 4 the valve comprises a anged head 21 and a packing ring Si. Formed integrally with the flanged head is a series of upstanding tongues 32 and 33 or springy metal. The tongues 32 (see Figure 4) spring inwardly to engage a recess' 35 in the lower end of the stem 2li; the alternate tongues 33 are sprung outwardly so that they engage a shouldered recess 35 in the internal surface of the bush iii.

It will be seen that the upper' end of each metal tongue is formed with a barbed enlargement 31 and that the bore of the bush 10 is slightly flared outwardly at 323, for reasons explained below.

When the stem 2Q is passed down through the bush into engagement with the valve, the lower end 39 ci the stem, which is tapered, as shown, forces the tongues 32 outwardly by a wedging action until the stem reaches the position shown in Figure 3 at which these four tongues spring inwardly over the enlargement 4Q to engage the recess 35. Further downward movement of the stem 2li causes the remaining tongues 33 to be wedged inwardly by the action of the shoulder 36 in the bush, so that the stem with the eight tongues engaged in the groove 35, forces the valve out of the bush. When the tongues 35 are clear of the bush they spring outwardly but the valve is retained on the stem by the remaining tongues 32.

Upon withdrawal of the stem the outwardly sprung tongues 33 enter the iiared portion 38 of the bush and are forced inwardly by a wedging action so that the tongues pass up through the bush and the valve resumes the position shown in Figure 3.

In the alternative construction shown in Figures 5 and 6 the valve 4l is of rubber comprising a head portion and an upstanding tubular wall 4i. The wall 42 is formed with a rib 43 which engages on the inside with a groove 44 in the stem 2B and on the outside with a shoulder 45 in the bush id. This valve operates in the same way as that described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 except that, instead oi deflection of metal tongues, the rubber of the valve is deformed to permit it to pass out of the bush on the downward movement of the stem; on withdrawal of the stem the rib 43 is compressed by the flared por tion 46 of the bush to allow it to pass back into the position shown in Figure 5.

An alternative form of valve is shown in Figure 7. In this construction the head 41 of the valve takes the form of a metal disc of stainless steel having its lower face slightly larger than its upper face as' shown. The metal disc is adapted to engage with a V-shaped groove 48 in the inner wall of a tubular rubber portion 49 engaging a groove in the bush le.

The head 41 of the valve is formed with a plurality of upstanding tongues 50 adapted to engage a peripheral groove in the stem 5l of an extractor.

In this construction, when the stem 5l is inserted through the bushing i, its lower end separatesthe tongues 5i! until they spring into the groove in the stem as shown in Figure '1. Further downward pressure on the stem causes the head 41 of the valve to spread the rubber portion outwardly and to pass down into the container. The valve is retained on the stem 5I by engagement of the tongues 5t with the groove. When the stem is withdrawn the conical wall of the head 41 engages the outwardly flared portion 52 of the rubber portion 49 and thereby expands the rubber, permitting the metal head 41 to pass back into the position shown in Figure 7.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 8, the valve member comprises metal tongues 5D, as already described with reference to Figure 1. These tongues are riveted to a thick disc-shaped base having a sharp upstanding edge 8! to engage a rubber ring 82 on the bottom of the bush.

In the construction of Figure 9, the bush lil has a rubber portion S9 acting as the valve seat accommodated in an enlargement at the bottom of the bush and the rubber 5S is retained in the bush by a shouldered nut 1li screw-threaded on to the bush. In order to accommodate the deformation o the rubber which takes place when the metal valve head 41 is being forced out of or into the rubber, the enlarged portion of the bush bore is formed with a peripheral recess 1I into which the rubber 69 can expand when deformed.

When the stem is in position within the container, as shown in Figure 2, the container may be sterilized by forcing a detergent liquid along the pipe 25 from whence it ilows out through the port 36, in through the holes 2S in the valve and exhausts through the inner tube 2i. For example, superheated steam may be used, followed by carbon-dioxide or other suitable gas.

The container may be iilled with liquid by connecting the vertical limb 26 of the elbow to a source of liquid supply. The liquid flows down the tube 2l and through the ports 2&3 in the valve; meanwhile the air or gas in the container escapes through the port Bil passes up the conduit formed by the space between'the two tubes and exhausts through the port 24 into the pipe 25. When liquid is to be drawn of from the container either the form of extractor' shown in Figure l may be used or that shown in Figure l0, which will now be described.

Figure 10 shows a valve according to the invention in conjunction with an extractor, the features of which are more fully described and are claimed in my copending application Serial No. 757,584, led 14th December 1934. This extractor comprises a lever (Figure l0) rotatable about trunnions 9i and having a cam or cams 92 whereby the rubber ring between the extractor body and the stem may be distorted to make the seal.

The metal blush lil, in this construction, has a packing ring 5? of resilient material, such as rubber and canvas, surrounding it, and a nut 6l and Washer E2 or applying pressure to the ring t5. The nut ill has a castellated or slotted extension 63 for engagement by a'teol. A rubber'extension Et engages the lower or the iii by an inwardly-directed flange in the construction of Figure '.7; coopera ing with this flange is a nut having a depending tapering portion 6l to engage the outer surface oi the rubber til. By screwing down the nut the rubber portion @d may be locked securely in position on the bush. The remainder o the valve is similar to that ready described with reference to Figures l and 2.

l To prot-ide a passage between the head oi the valve and the end of the stern, the end of the stem may be forni ed with radial holes @5 as shown in Figures 3, 5, 7., d. In order that there shall be no risk of the met l tongues of the valve becoming engaged with ese holes, theV stern is preferably formed with a peripheral groove with a gradual expansion to the main part of the stem; thus, he stem is passed into the valve, the metal tongues, il they engage the holes, are disengaged by further movement oi the stem. However, the preferred arrangement is shown in Figures l, 2, 9, l) in which there are no radial holes in the end ofV ie out stem is open at its lower end ad spaced a short distance away from the head portion or the valve so as to leave a space ile, shown Figure l. The metal tcnguesare an accurate lit where they engage the stem so lthat there is no risk of the space @il being f closed up during operation of the extractor. The space et may be made of such size as to act as a strainer.

I claim:-

1. A bung hole tting for liquid containers comprising a tubular bushing for the bung hole, a dise valve member normally 'closing said bushing but displaceable o-ut Yoi said bushing'by a' draw off stem inserted in said bushing, resilient means for holdingsaid Valve vmember' in a position closing said bushing, and axially extending resilient holding means onl said valve member adapted to encircle a draw-off stem inserted in said bushing, said holding means having one or more detent portions projecting radially inwardly therefrom, which engage with a peripheral groove on the draw-off stem.

2. A bung hole fitting for liquid containers comprising a tubular bushing for the bung hole, a disc Valve member normally closing said bushing, an annular recess within the bore of said bushing towards its inner end,axially extending resilient means on said Valve member having radially outwardlyfdirected parts for engaging in said recess to hold said valve member in a. position closing said bushing, and resilient catch means on said valve member having radially inwardly directed parts for engagement with a peieral groove on the outside of a draw-off stem 'ed in bushing.

3. t bung hole :dtting for liquid containers comprising a tubular bushing for the bung hole, a disc valve member normally closing said bushingbut displaeeable out of .said bushing by a draw 01T stem inserted in said bushing, axially Vor said valve having an on the ends of one extending resilient catch means having radially outwardly directed parts for engagement with the bushing, and holding said valve member in a position closing said bushing, and spring catch means on said Valve member having radially inwardly directed parts adapted to engage in a peripheral groove on the outside or a draw 01T stem inserted said bushing.

havi

forming an an interr valve ane nt holding means on said Valve t member for gripping a draw ofi stem inserted in said bushing.

5. lA bung hole iitting .for liquid containers comprising a bushing for the bung hole, a disc valve having a bevelled upper edge for closing said bushing, a rubber sleeve forming an exten-` {son of said bushing and having an internal V groove to receive the edge of said valve, and resilient holding means on said Valve member for gripping a draw off stem inserted in said bushing.

7. A bung hole fitting for liquid containers comprising a bushing forthe bung hole,.a disc bung hol-e iitting for liquid containers cove to receive the edge of said valve for closing said bushing, an annular re-V i cess within the bore of said bushing towards its inner end, a rubber sleeve on theV upper surface external rib to engage in said'recess'to hold said valve member in a position closing said bushing, and resilient holding means on said valve member for gripping a draw oil. stem inserted in said bushing.

8. A bung holeV fitting for liquid containers comprising a bushing for the bung hole, adisc valve for closing said bushing, an annular-recess within the bore of said bushing towards its inner end, a rubber sleeve on the upper surface of said valve having an external rib to engage in said recess toV hold said valve member in a position closing said bushing, sleeve to engage in a off stem inserted in said bushing.

9. A bung hole tting for liquid containers comprising a bushing for the bung hole, a valve member normally closing 'said bushing, nular recess within the bore of said bushing towards its inner end, two sets of spring lingers on said valve member, inwardly projecting parts set of ngers adapted to ene gage in a peripheral recess on a draw 01T stem inserted in said bushing, and outwardly projecting parts on the ends of the other set of spring fingers adapted to engage in the annular recess in the bore of the bushing. n

FREDERICK JOHN VTREVALLON BARNES.

and an external rib on saidj peripheral recess on a drawA 

